v.
Pronunciation: d ə - ' v ə rt, d ī -
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French divertir, from Latin divertere to turn in opposite directions, from dis- + vertere to turn ― more at WORTH
Date: 15th century
intransitive verb : to turn aside : DEVIATE <studied law but divert ed to diplomacy>
transitive verb
1 a : to turn from one course or use to another : DEFLECT < divert traffic to a side street> b : DISTRACT <trying to divert her attention>
2 : to give pleasure to especially by distracting the attention from what burdens or distresses
synonyms see AMUSE